Even Out the Playing Field: Gender Discrimination & the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team

It has been hard to ignore one of the biggest events happening this month, the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Millions have watched and followed the soccer competition, taking place in Paris, France from June 7th to July 7th. In addition to this global spotlight, another spotlight has been cast thanks to the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) — a spotlight on gender discrimination, sexism, and unequal pay. 

The world watches every goal that Megan Rapinoe scores and every epic save by Alyssa Naeher. It also watches as the women break barriers, shatter records, and fight for the title of World Cup champions. With all of the amazing feats that the USWNT continues to pull off, one would think they would be compensated for their achievements. But that is not what is happening. Instead, the highest paid US Men’s National Team player makes nearly $200,000 more than the highest paid player on the US Women’s National Team, even though the women significantly outperform them.

Megan Rapinoe, team captain and forward, celebrates scoring both goals in the team's 2-1 victory over France (Richard Sellers/ Getty Images)

USWNT Fights Back

Announced on International Women’s Day in March 2019, many USWNT players filed a federal lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), arguing “institutional gender discrimination.” The athletes stated that they play more games than the men’s team — and win more often — yet still receive less pay. The players also said that discrimination affects not only their paychecks, but also where they play and how often, how they train, the medical care and coaching they receive, and even how they travel to matches. 

The lawsuit also mentions the women's three World Cup titles and four Olympic gold medals. The USWNT has also been ranked number 1 in the world for 10 of the past 11 years and brings in more revenue than the men’s team. It would seem that the players truly deserve equal pay and treatment.

This lawsuit is not the first time that the USWNT has fought for equal rights in sports. In March 2016, players filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a federal agency that can investigate and mediate allegations of discrimination. The players argued that they were being paid considerably less than their male counterparts and that the cause of the gap was sexism.

Last month, as the World Cup approached, rumors surfaced that the USSF might settle out of court to avoid bad press during the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The rumor proved to be untrue, as the Federation instead filed defenses. It argues that the US Men’s Team plays more games and their ‘biological differences of strength/skill’ make for different compensation levels. Without saying it explicitly, it is clear that the Federation believes women are not entitled to equal pay, because, in its view, the women do not do equal work.

Title IX & Women’s Fight for Equality in Sports 

In 1972, Congress passed Title IX legislation which prohibits discrimination based on sex in any federally funded education program or activity. 

Generations of women – now able to compete in sports in colleges and universities – have benefited from Title IX. The law has also has provided the tools to build organizations that provide equal opportunity for girls and women and to call out institutions that are underperforming. 

According to a report from the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), roughly 3.2 million girls participated in sports in 2011, compared to 4.5 million boys. A similar rate of growth happened in intercollegiate sports — nearly 200,000 young women participated in college-level athletic programs as of 2011, up from less than 32,000 prior to Title IX.

Before Title IX, one in 27 girls played sports. Today that number is two in five. While we still have far to go before every girl has equal access to sports, especially girls of color, it is clear that we are making headway. That is why the USWNT’s case is such an important place marker of women’s equality. 

U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher makes a save during a Women's World Cup quarterfinal match against France on June 28 in Paris (Franck Fife / Getty Images)

Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that, “Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.” This case is about keeping the promises of the UDHR. It is about the USWNT athletes advocating fiercely and standing up for themselves. It is about insisting that women’s sports matter; that every female athlete matters. Be it the USWNT and soccer, the WNBA and basketball, Serena Williams and her fight for equality in tennis, or a small girls’ program fighting for the same resources as a boys’ team, they all matter. This struggle is about pushing back against gender norms and refusing to take “no” for an answer in the fight for gender equality in sports. 

At the end of June 2019, the Federation made a surprise announcement: it is willing to go into mediation over the USWNT gender discrimination suit. Hopefully, this announcement leads to more equality across sports and across international borders.